Comparative Lifecycle Assessments:
Lead and Lithium-Iron Phosphate Batteries

Major manufacturing industries rely on lead-based batteries and lithium-iron phosphate batteries for critical energy storage. Each has advantages. Yet, comparing the two technologies shows quite different sustainability profiles, particularly during their manufacturing phase.

Lead Battery Sustainability Surpasses Lithium-Iron Phosphate in Manufacturing

Comparative lifecycle assessments between certain lead-based (Pb) batteries and lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have made an important conclusion: Lead battery sustainability substantially surpasses lithium-iron phosphate in manufacturing.

The need to reduce global warming has made sustainability a key criterion in selecting energy storage technologies. Increasingly, the automotive, material handling and industrial sectors are factoring in a battery chemistry’s green profile during manufacturing – not just end-of-life recycling – in addition to safety, reliability and cost-efficiency. Lead batteries especially excel in modeling a successful circular economy.

Manufacturing Impact: Comparing Automotive Batteries

Auto manufacturers of ICE, start-stop and micro-hybrids face new and emerging battery options. Many have an unknown impact on global warming. A comparative lifecycle assessment evaluated a 12V lead-based battery (Pb or PbB) and a 12V lithium-iron phosphate battery (LFP, also known as LiB-LFP).

Key Finding The environmental impact of manufacturing a motive Pb battery is three times less than manufacturing a similar LFP battery.

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is the most commonly used metric for quantifying the ability of each greenhouse gas to trap heat in the atmosphere. Manufacturing Pb batteries has a lower GWP impact than LFP batteries, under the assumptions taken in the baseline scenario of the study.

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Manufacturing Impact: Comparing Motive (Forklift) Batteries

Experts predict that global demand for motive batteries will increase by over 63%, from 41 GWh in 2022 to 67 GWh in 2030. The material handling sector is rapidly replacing gas-powered internal combustion for forklifts to electric models with on-board power supply. This is driving demand for both Pb batteries and LFP batteries. A comparative lifecycle assessment evaluated the batteries, each were 48V, 500 Ah (24kWh).

Key Finding The environmental impact of manufacturing a motive Pb battery is three times less than manufacturing a similar LFP battery.
Global Warming Potential Manufacturing Pb batteries has a lower GWP impact than LFP batteries, under the assumptions taken in the baseline scenario of the study.

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